Patent GB-157094-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to recording devices for railways
IPC: G01G19/04
Filed: 1921-01-08
Abstract: 157,094. Krupp Akt.-Ges., F. Oct. 11, 1919, [Convention date]. Permanent records, apparatus for giving.-Apparatus for recording the number of axles passing a given point, the pressure on each axle, the direction of travel and the time at which they pass, ccmprises treadle contact devices operated by the flanges of the wheels, which close circuits controlling styles which record marks on a rotating drum carrying paper. The contact device operating the styles comprises a cylinder b<3>, Figs. 3 and 4, fixed to the rail, and a plunger c' which is depressed against a strong spring D by passing wheel flanges to an extent depending upon the load upon the wheel. Levers F, F<1>, Fig. 1, are pivoted to the fishplate B' and are connected bv slotted holes and pin E to plunger c'. A rack c<1> carried by plunger c<1> engages a pinion H carried on an insulating bush h<1> on stud b<8>. Carried by bush h<1> is the arm h<3> carrying a block K which is spring-pressed in an upward direction by spring k<1> on stud h<5>, Fig. 7, and has an outwardly spring-pressed contact stud M which bears against the insulating quadrant b<9>. This quadrant has wedge-tike projections with inclined ends b<13> and b<15> which allow stud M to pass over them when the plunger c<1> is depressed by a loaded wheel flange, but on the rise of the plunger, the inclined end b<13> forces stud M outwardly against spring K<1> and it passes over and makes contact with stud b<17>. A light wheel only moves stud M over the first projection b<13>, in which case it contacts with b<16> on the return stroke. A second contact device is provided a short distance from the other comprising a cylinder n<2>, Fig. 9, fixed to the rail, a plunger P which is depressed against a comparatively weak spring p<2> by all passing wheel flanges, and insulated contact plates n<5>, n<6> which are bridged by members Q, Q<1> carried by, but insulated from, the plunger P when the latter is depressed. The recorder consists of a drum R, capable of being slightly rotated each time the magnet r<2> is energized and three styles S, S<2> and S<3> which are fed along the length of the drum in a direction coaxial with it by a screw T rotated by a clock T'. the style S, being in contact with the paper on the drum, but the styles S<2>, S<3> are brought into contact with the paper only when influenced by electromagnets r<6>, r<7>. The apparatus is connected with a source of current R<5> as shown in Fig. 11 so that when a wheel travelling in the direction of the arrow y depresses the plunder P, the magnet r<2> is energized and the drum slightly rotated, causing the middle style S to trace a normal line in a peripheral direction on the drum. If the passing wheel be loaded, plunger c<1> will be depressed far enough to complete the circuit through contact b<17> and magnets r<7> and r<2> causing style S<2> also to make a short line on one side of the normal line. If the wheel be light, plunger c<1> is only depressed far enough to complete the circuit through the contact b<16> and magnets r<6>, r<2>, style S<3> then making a line on the other side of the normal line. By providing a larger number of contacts corresponding to the contacts b<16>, b<17>, and an equal number of styles, the apparatus may be made more sensitive to slight differences in the load on the wheels, and the dial would then indicate the precise weight on each axle.